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The Muse's News |
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Issue 4.7 - October 2001
ISSN 1480-6975
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I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Q&A with Nancy A. Reece from Carpe Diem Copyright Management
@-- Music Reviews - by Ben Ohmart
@-- Featured Article - THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC:
Publicity: How To get It - by Charles Katz
@-- Musical Notes - Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
@-- Muse's Clues - by Irene Jackson
@-- Songwriter In Spotlight - Information
@-- Featured Article - Breaking into the soft-seater market:
A "Lawless" approach by Gregg Lawless
@-- On Site Featured Article - An article already online for your
viewing pleasure.
@-- Classifieds & Useful Services
@-- Contact information
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ISSN 1480-6975. Copyright 1998 - 2001, Jodi Krangle. For more
contact information, see end of issue.
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This ezine featured at EzineCenter.com - the Ezine Search
Engine(tm) - http://www.ezinecenter.com/
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Please support the sponsors that support this newsletter! Thanks!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNLEASH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE INTERNET WITH SONGSCOPE.COM!
SongScope is a valuable tool enabling you to build an on-line song
catalog, accessible only by proven industry professionals. Receive
FREE email informing you every time record producers and industry
professionals make requests. Song listings are only $29.95 per
year. An ecommerce enabled marketing/promotion page and tour
calendar are also available for performing songwriters to get
further artist exposure.
See http://www.musesmuse.com/songscope.html for details or contact:
writerinfo@songscope.com ~ Tel: 770.754.4543
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E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
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Hi everyone. This will be a slightly shortened version of the
newsletter, depending on the preferences of the individual
columnists. I've decided to wait another month for the release of
my latest songwriter interview for a few reasons, but you can
expect that in next month's issue.
In this first issue after the tragic happenings of September 11th,
I wanted not only to offer my deepest sympathies to all those
affected, but to offer people a way they can help.
Here are some urls you can check out if you want to get more
involved in the recovery effort, if you want to make a donation, or
if you want to give blood. These urls are useful at *any* time,
but they are especially relevant now:
The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/
The Canadian Red Cross: http://www.redcross.ca/index_english.html
The British Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.uk/
The Australian Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.au/
Wherever you happen to be, there is likely a Red Cross organization
you can give blood or monetary donations to. Here are a couple of
other web sites that are relevant:
The Widow's and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters
Association: http://ufalocal94.org/
The Salvation Army: http://store.yahoo.com/salvationarmy/
Amazon.com is accepted donations on behalf of the American Red
Cross and have already collected $6,395,068.73 from 165480
different people:
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/paypage/PKAXFNQH7EKCX/
(If this url doesn't work, just click through to it from the
graphic at http://www.amazon.com/ )
At its most basic level, this attack not only affected America -
it affected the world. We were all touched in some way by what
happened. There were, in fact, people from 62 different countries
in the World Trade buildings when they were hit. I know for
myself, I still find it hard to watch TV coverage of this horrible
event without starting to cry. It's a loss of innocence, surely.
But it can also be a rallying point for strength. More than ever,
we need each other. The music community needs to reach out to one
another, offering solace and understanding in these troubling
times.
As songwriters, we have an advantage over a great many people. We
have a means of expression. I'm sure writers and artists of all
types are speaking out in their own way. Express yourself. Talk
and write about your anger, your fear and your sorrow. Don't let it
fester.
And then do what needs to be done. Because if we don't all move on
with our lives at some point, the perpetrators of this terror have
won.
We can't let them win.
Sending out lots of virtual hugs,
--Jodi
Back to Menu
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SHAMELESS PLUG:
Drop by http://www.musesmuse.com/musemerchandise.html today to pick
up your very own Muse's Muse shirt, mug or mousepad! And while
you're at it, think about starting your *own* store. It would be
pretty cool to sell your own band's logo or design on promo items,
wouldn't it? And starting up a store requires no investment of
money on your part at all. Details on how to do that are only a
click away...
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/storeref.aspx?refby=musesmuse
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C o p y r i g h t & P u b l i s h i n g Q & A :
Though I mentioned that Duff and Nancy would be back this month,
due to recent events, we thought it best to postpone for one more
month.
Meanwhile, the Q&A's taken from both this newsletter and those
displayed online, are located here:
http://www.musesmuse.com/pubq-a.html - and are arranged by subject.
If you have questions that aren't already covered there, all
instructions on how to ask a question are also included at that
location.
Back to Menu
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M u s i c R e v i e w s : by Ben Ohmart
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The Industrial Jazz Group - Hardcore
Mike Dodge clarinet, ten. sax
Andrew Durkin composer, piano
Evan Francis flute, alt. sax
Daniel Glass drums
Drew Hemwall drums
Aaron Kohen bass
Cory Wright saxes, clarinet
are The Industrial Jazz Group, which is as far away from industrial
as a musical term as you can get without falling off the edge of
the earth. Industrial conjures up images of repeat play rhythm that
is programmed to go on and on and on without a cup of coffee, with
imagination being pawned for dance bars of inordinate length. What
TIJG is actually seeking is that little seen area of play between
Duke Ellington and Frank Zappa. A progressive nature of jazz in
which rules are taken out and beaten like dusty carpets so that
some fresh air can find its way in between the fabrics.
Now, you might say, 'Isn't all jazz progressive by nature?' WHACK!
Where you been? There are many, many, too many bands that might as
well employ a metronome as a drummer, perhaps taking off a brief
moment for an estranged solo before getting back to the
unrecognizable tune. Then there're the smooth jazz combos that are
so lilting they're causing too many traffic accidents when their
audiences fall asleep at the wheel. TIJG is neither. They will
squeal in reed harmonies and bass plunk as in 'Skeeter Goes Legit.'
They will take Zappa's electronic phase to task in the strange,
microscopic, mini-vibe moment of 'Fantasy on Cozy.' And they'll
front a moment of mainstream puff as in 'Plus or Minus Eleven,'
where the piano keeps the time signature rolling as the blow flows
over it from various stereophonic directions. What they Won't do is
the average, the usual, the pompous.
Thank composer Andrew Durkin for that. He wields his arranging
skills like a cat-smelling dog. It looks like a dog, it acts like a
dog, but what’s that smell? Incredibly gifted, Durkin lays on his
riffs and layers of prog stuffs with the cleverness of Miles Davis
without the altitude of attitude. Perfect combo sandwich.
www.uglyrug.com
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OTHER NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
James Asher -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000070.html
Charly McLion -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000069.html
Music of the Ottoman Empire -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000068.html
Steven B. Eulberg -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000067.html
Dean Evenson & Scott Huckabay -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000059.html
The Boyash Gypsies of Hungary -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000061.html
Dean Evenson & Scott Huckabay -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000059.html
Larry Kucharz -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000060.html
Thomas Leary -
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000066.html
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******
Ben Ohmart has had 100s of stories and poems in zines and
journals, and had 4 plays produced last year. His lyrics will be
on 2 CDs this year, 1 a gothic album, the other a rock album.
He's currently writing films, with hopes of having one done in
Malaysia soon, and is also trying to break into the prison of
television. He's white, 26, single and loves British comedy. He
lives in Boalsburg, PA, and enjoys watching rabbits eat his
garbage. Contact him at: ohmart@musesmuse.com .
**Ben has kindly consented to do music reviews for this
publication and also for The Muse's Muse itself. If you have an
independently released CD or tape that you'd like to get
reviewed, send it off to: Ben Ohmart, P O Box 750, Boalsburg, PA
16827 or drop by his Music Reviews web section at
http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html for more details.**
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Please support the sponsors that support this newsletter! Thanks!)
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GET YOUR SONGS HEARD BY TOP MUSIC-INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS!
The Great American Song Contest offers songwriters and lyricists
the opportunity to get heard by publishers, producers, artists, hit
songwriters and other music-industry pros. This highly recommended
contest offers More Winners & More Awards! / Prizes in 7 Song
Categories! / Opportunities to Promote Your Songs! / Low Entry
Fees! Plus, ALL entries receive a written evaluation from the
judges!
Visit www.GreatAmericanSong.com for details, or email
info@GreatAmericanSong.com for a printed brochure.
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F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e :
Charles will be providing us with a series of articles discussing
common problems performing songwriters might face within the music
business.
THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC: Publicity: How To get It - by Charles Katz
©2001, Charles Katz. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
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"I Got a Name" performed by Jim Croce, lyrics by Norman Gimbel and
Music by Charles Fox was a very popular tune in the early 70's.
The lyric "I got a name; I got a name" was repeated several times
in the song getting its message across.
Publicity is the method performing songwriters have to use to get
their names in the starlights !!!
I strongly believe that the press kit is your door to favorable
publicity. Publicity materials and demo CDs are your courier.
They deliver information, create excitement and imprint "I Got a
Name" in the minds of the public.
I am organizing a tour for some performing artists.
Each one sent me a press kit.
One in particular, impressed me. I'll describe it below:
The folder was a classic mauve with a signed picture, in color,
of the performing artist.
Inside the jacket, there was the following:
1. A business card easily accessible with the pertinent
information.
2. Biography - Simple summary outlining the key points of the
career
3. Discography outlining history of releases with descriptions and
picture cover of the CD's
4. Fact Sheet with the these titles:
The Hometown, The Band, Latest release, Latest Singles, Latest
Video, Record Label, Musical influences, Points of note,
Additional Information, and Contact information
5. Published articles about the artist in various trade magazines
6. A postcard with a picture of the artist on the front and return
address on the back
7. Sample Single CD release neatly wrapped in the artwork from the
jewel case
Your letterhead should have a professional logo designed by a
commercial artist.
The photographs should be in color, signed, presenting
an image desirable by the public. Yes, if you've got it flaunt it.
Outlets for your prestigious press kit are the following:
1. The Internet (To be discussed next issue)
2. Fan Mailing List
3. Media List
4. Press Releases(To be discussed next issue)
For a performing artist, perseverance and repetitive work pay off
big so if you have a name, get it known!!!
Too much publicity never hurts.
Stay tuned for next month's article:
Publicity: Using the Internet to Promote Your Music.
******
Charles Katz owns a high-tech company, Printerm, established for 20
years, and manages a Record Label, Windrift Music Inc. He currently
has a CD "Night Driving Music" installed at Internet sites in the
US, UK, and Asia collecting royalties. Charles is presently working
on his second CD with a female recording artist and has established
a virtual band, Spencer K for that project. As a business leader,
musician, publisher, and promoter, he is now providing his
expertise for fellow artists. Contact: ckatz@windriftmusic.com
Back to Menu
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M u s i c a l N o t e s : Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
In the interest of conserving space, I will only be including
changes to this listing in this newsletter. All other contests
and market information that have already been listed here, are
displayed at http://www.musesmuse.com/contests.html &
http://www.musesmuse.com/markets.html . Please check there
regularly for updates!
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'RADIO MUSE' WEBCAST FOR INDEPENDENT SONGWRITERS - SEEKING MUSIC!
The Muse's Muse & Host, Jan Best of Independent Songwriter
Web-Magazine, are putting together a series of shows, one every
month, featuring the songs of independent songwriters just like
you! See http://www.musesmuse.com/radiomuse.html for details on how
you can send in your own music for consideration.
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DO YOU LIKE THE MUSE'S MUSE?
HERE'S ANOTHER COMMUNITY YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
Just Plain Folks - www.jpfolks.com - is a fantastic organization,
over 11,000 members strong - especially for people who want to make
it in the music biz. Participation could be a great thing for your
career! Have a look at the web site and if you're interested in
getting involved, just click here:
mailto:jpnotes@aol.com?cc=jodi@musesmuse.com&subject=IWantToJoin
and include your full name, your city, your state/province and your
country in the body of your email. By joining, you'll also be
entered into a weekly drawing for great prizes (which is why they
need your full name)! They send out a free newsletter once every
two weeks and it's a great way to keep informed about what's
happening out there - especially if you're an indie.
I've been a mentor @ JPF for several years now. They're well worth
checking out! If the link above doesn't work for you, you can also
email me directly and I can take care of it for you. :) -- Jodi
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JOIN THE REVOLUTION & LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD:
MP3Equity.com is a new organization that is attempting to join all
musical artists, whether signed or unsigned, as one group for the
purposes of addressing a wide variety of inequities that continue
to plague the working musician. Our first step has been to create
a proposed Artist Bill of Rights. Presently the Bill of Rights is
open for debate at MP3Equity.com. There is no fee to join MP3
Equity, and we are working with Musicians-United.com to coordinate
the ratification of the Bill of Rights. From a digital music
perspective, we must gather as many artists as we can.
Individually, artists lack power, but collectively they would be a
force to be reckoned with. All artists are welcome to join,
regardless of where their digital music is housed. As we gain in
membership, we will also be adding additional benefits to our
members.
MP3 Equity will operate in a manner similar to the Screen Actor's
Guild, and concentrate on establishing and enforcing artist's
rights. We hope to also house the music of our members in the near
future. We do not intend to be a Online Music Destination, per se,
but a Digital Music Cooperative, where the membership helps set our
course.
Since we are populated at this time primarily with digital artists,
we have not yet begun to address the concerns of "real world"
signed artists, but we are eager to help them in their struggle.
We invite all artists everywhere to join us and help us understand
how we can help them. It is past time for musical artists to be
united as one voice. Join us in regaining the revolution that was
silenced. There will be another revolution, and it has already
begun. This time the revolutionaries are in charge.
Rod Underhill (cofounder, MP3.com) - http://www.MP3Equity.com
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THE UNSIGNED WAR IS ON AT WWW.UNSIGNEDWAR.COM !!!
The Unsigned War is a Global competition that gives Unsigned
Artists, songwriters and bands a fair chance to be heard by Music
Industry professionals, and compete for prizes worth well over
$10,000!
WE ARE ACCEPTING SONGS IN THESE CATEGORIES:
Rock (all styles), R&B, Hip-Hop (all styles), Pop(all styles),
Electronic, Rap-Rock, Country, Written Lyrics (all styles), Text
Emceeing, Spoken Word (all styles, Poetry, etc.) & Music Production
(all styles, hip-hop beats, New Age, instrumental production, etc.)
(A cappella Performances are also accepted)
Grand Prize winners in each skill category will be given the
opportunity to have their material Shopped to the Major Labels and
GET SIGNED! AND MUCH MORE....
WE AWARD OUR WINNERS WITH WHAT THEY REALLY WANT...... A CHANCE TO
TAKE THEIR CAREERS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
Entry fee for the UnsignedWar Competition is only $15 per song if
you enter before October 31st!!! Act Now and take advantage of this
special low entry fee. Rounds for this competition are continuous,
there is no deadline ever. If you have any questions please e-mail
us at: thewar@unsignedwar.com
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COOCH MUSIC HAS LAUNCHED ITS THIRD "AMATEUR SONGWRITING CONTEST"!
Web address at www.coochmusic.com.
Songwriters are now able to enter a contest that is aimed for
amateurs only! Songs are to be judged on originality, lyrics, melody
and composition. Quality of performance and production will not be
considered. Entry fee is only $10.00 per song. Win Prizes and
publishing contracts from J.Cooch Music (BMI), music publisher.
As Joseph Cuccia from Cooch Music explains, "This contest is for
every amateur songwriter who really wants to make it in this
industry. Helping the amateur songwriter is what we do best! Every
entry is listened to by the staff of J.Cooch Music(BMI), music
publisher. Giving every entry the guarantee of being listened to by
a professional in the industry."
Deadline for this contest is December 31, 2001.
Cooch Music will run it's Amateur Songwriting Contest twice a year.
For information on how to get an entry form, rules regulations and
the prize list visit www.coochmusic.com.
Cooch Music "Helping the amateur songwriter is what we do best!".
Services include: Music Publishing, Production, Management, Amateur
Songwriting Contest, Songwriter Services, Industry Song Listings and
More!
Back to Menu
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M u s e ' s C l u e s : by Irene Jackson
©1998-2001 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved. Used By
Permission
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Many songwriters begin writing because they need to express or
resolve their own feelings about the events in their lives.
Songwriting is, at its best, a form of self-therapy. The events of
the last couple of weeks beginning with the terrorist attacks in
New York may have jolted you into or out of a creative state. I
have seen many, many lyrics posted in the newsgroup
rec.music.makers.songwriting and other songwriting messageboards
around the topic of these attacks. I've also seen other
songwriters express the inability to even BEGIN to write as a
result of the same events.
Jodi and I tried to decide what we could do with this month's
Muses' Clues in light of everything that has happened. The first
idea was to make a list of music-related websites that are
contributing to helping those thousands of people recover. There
are literally thousands of websites with links to the American Red
Cross, and many smaller labels and artists are donating proceeds of
their sales. It's a wonderful thing to see. The arts always rally
around difficult times! If you want to make a contribution to the
Red Cross, please do so through the Muse's Muse main page or the
links that Jodi has included in this newsletter.
We also discussed the idea of music as a healing tool. I have to
say that personally, I've experienced the power of songs and hymns
over the last couple of weeks in a way I never have before. We use
music as a way of dealing with our tragedies, celebrating our
triumphs and expressing pretty much every emotion we have. The
fact is that music therapy is considered by many doctors and
hospitals as an effective way of treatment for many illnesses. If
you are interested in learning more about music therapy, here are
some sites to check out:
The American Music Therapy Association
http://www.musictherapy.org/
This website has a ton of links, from quotes by people like Mickey
Hart of the Grateful Dead ("(Rhythm) is there in the cycles of the
seasons, in the migrations of the birds and animals, in the
fruiting and withering of plants, and in the birth, maturation and
death of ourselves"...), to links, to how to find a music
therapist.
Article: Scientists Now Agree On The Healing Power of Music:
http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/112297/UK2835.html
Aren't scientists always the last to admit what we already know??
:-)
And another article: The Music Of Healing:
http://arts.endow.gov/artforms/Music/musictherapy.html
Here's another interested article written by Henry Jim who is not
only a songwriter, but also a psychologist:
http://henryjim.com/a_good_song.html
Lastly, as a songwriter you may be one of those trying to express
in your lyrics your feelings about the attacks in New York. Keep
doing it...it will not only help you deal with your own grief and
anger, but it may also reach out to someone else who needs to hear
it. Even so, you may be one of those who has been jolted into a
bad case of writer's block. One thing you may have heard about as
a way of getting past writer's block is to sit down and start a
daily journal. I've used this myself...somehow the freedom of
just being able to express your emotions without having to worry
about rhyme and meter, opens up the top of your head. If you've
never written a journal before, here's a website that gives you
some ideas as to how to start it...and keep it!:
http://www.ridgenet.net/~mimi/journalpamphlet.html
We're really lucky as songwriters that we have this form of
self-therapy. Music and art and dance help us to find our way
through our fears, confusion, our anger and our grief. My thoughts
and prayers go out to all of you who have been directly affected by
the terrorist attacks.
******
Irene Jackson is a performing songwriter from Victoria, BC in
Canada. Aside from writing, recording and performing, she also
maintains a website for songwriters that includes tips, articles
and more links of interest. Her eagerly anticipated CD "Catnip" is
finally here, and her earlier recordings have had attention
everywhere from Japan to South America.
Songwriting Tips: http://www.irenejackson.com/tips.html
Homepage: http://www.irenejackson.com/
Songs on MP3:
http://www.mp3.com/artists/20/irene_jackson.html
Back to Menu
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S o n g w r i t e r I n S p o t l i g h t :
While there isn't a spotlight for this month, you can find all of
the previous interviews here:
http://www.musesmuse.com/interviews.html
If you get a chance, I highly recommend you read over these
inspirational Q&A's.
Back to Menu
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F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e :
Breaking into the soft-seater market: A "Lawless" approach by
Gregg Lawless
©2001, Greg Lawless. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted By Permission.
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the magazine put out
by the Songwriting Association of Canada (SAC) - so the references
are Canadian. But you should be able to apply these principles no
matter where you are!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 1: Getting started
soft-seater n. a fancy-dancy concert hall with plush seating for
250 - 2,500 people
Are you:
a.) more than a wee bit sick of playing the same bars over and over
again?
b.) feeling like your so-called "career" hasn't progressed over the
past few years?
c.) looking for "good" gigs for "appreciative" audiences?
d.) convinced that you are just as talented and entertaining as all
of the "stars" you see on t.v.?
e.) all of the above?
Maybe it's time you moved on - and up - to the soft-seater (250 -
1000 seat theatre) market.
Advantages/Why theatres?
"Listening audience": The soft-seater audience is there to watch
and listen. In my experience, they "want" to have a good time and
be entertained; give them a reason to love you and they will.
"Production": Most soft-seaters are beautiful buildings with great
production values (i.e. sound, lights, staging) and (yeehaw!) no
smoke.
"Demographic": The audience, usually comprised of 35 - 75
year-olds, has disposable income. If they like your act, they will
likely buy your cd...not another beer.
"Media interest": The mere fact that you are playing in a major
theatre is usually an event in itself, especially in smaller
cities/communities. As a result, local press coverage is usually
thorough.
"Marketing": Most theatres will have a marketing plan for promoting
their performances. They are, however, greatly appreciative of
artists who are ready and willing to assist them and provide new
ideas on how to sell "unknown" acts.
"Pay": You will be making approximately 2 to 10 times what you are
making in a club. If you don't think you're worth this kind of
money, you need to ask yourself: "Why aren't I?"
Tools/What you need to get there
1.) An outstanding, finished cd, with a post-it stuck to the front
cover, highlighting the three tracks that you think will "get you
the gig" (this may vary from venue to venue).
2.) A fantastic press kit, including:
- a succinct, well-written bio. that will make media say: "Wow,
that's a great hook...we could write a story about that!"
- a professionally shot photo that reflects your act and/or your
stage persona
- reviews (less is more: one good review from a major publication
is better than twenty from small papers/magazines)
- letters of reference from past presenters
3.) A current, professionally designed website (self-named is best,
i.e. www.gregglawless.com),
including, if at all possible, samples of your songs.
4.) An active email and/or mailing list.
5.) A great live show/showcase (...read on!)
Remember: you are competing with major label acts and therefore
need to look and sound at least as good, preferably better.
Showcase opportunities/"Showing your stuff"
Most presenters base their programming decisions on either what's
"hot" (i.e. major label acts with name recognition) or on what acts
they "discover" during showcases at regional/provincial conferences
(i.e. the Ontario Arts Council's "Contact", ATAA's "Showcase
Alberta", B.C.'s "Pacific Contact" and the national "CAPACOA"
conference).
You should attend your first conference as a delegate/onlooker, one
year before applying for a showcase. Trust me on this one, folks:
it'll be a sound investment. You will get a feel for the
conference, how business is done and, most importantly, how to
avoid "first-timer" mistakes. Find out who the key
players/presenters are and...
ASK QUESTIONS!!!
Ask musicians, agents, managers, conference staff and, especially,
the presenters themselves. The following year, when you are
accepted to showcase(!), you'll be able to contact presenters in
advance to personally re-introduce yourself and invite them to your
15 minute do-or-die performance.
Things to remember for your showcase
Dress appropriately. Remember: your demographic is now 35 - 75
year olds; they don't want to pay $35.00 a ticket to see someone in
old, torn jeans and a wrinkled shirt. Presenters are keenly aware
of this.
The presenters are usually booking "entertainment" series. If your
artistic integrity insists that you absolutely must play a 5
minute, droning dirge, then so be it. But you had better follow it
up with a couple of barn-burners that will leave 'em dancing in the
aisles. If you "get the gig", you can always slip in your "arty"
songs; showcases, however, are designed to show presenters that
their audience will be thoroughly entertained.
Unless you're generally acknowledged as the most articulate, funny
improviser in your province or state, rehearse all of your stage
"patter" (intro's and conclusions, seemingly "off-the-cuff" remarks
- they rarely are! - , band introductions, thank you's)
If you are a guitarist, bring a back-up guitar. If you break a
string, you will have no time to replace it.
Rehearse your musical segues (transitions from song to song).
Smile when you can; show the audience that this is what you love to
do.
Acknowledge the audience's applause.
The "real" work: following up
Plan and rehearse your phone call. If you're sending an email,
have a business-minded friend read over a draft version of the
email message you'll be sending to make sure it's neither overly
formal nor obsequious. If there is interest, ASK FOR THE GIG: "I'm
really glad you liked it...can we book a date for next season?" Ask
presenters if you can put them on your email "news" list to keep
them up-to-date on what you're doing. The key is to be politely
persistent...send gentle reminders/updates, but don't be a pest. My
follow-up chart works like this:
"Genuine interest": call every 2 to 3 months
"Some interest": call every 6 months
"Little interest" interest: call once a year
"No interest": call only if you have made signicant steps
towards becoming a household name
Welcome to the gruelling, stressful, often humiliating, sometimes
unbelievably rewarding, world of the self-managed, soft-seater
artist.
Sound tough? It is. But when you finish your first set in front of
500 attentive listeners in a beautiful theatre, you'll be glad
you've hung in there.
Next issue: Part 2: Turning one small "break" into a career
******
Gregg Lawless is a Toronto-based, self-represented
singer/songwriter, currently promoting his latest cd, "Wicked
little buzz", with the "Fancy-Dancy Theatre Tour 2001".
Contact: www.gregglawless.com
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" O N S I T E " F E A T U R E D A R T I C L E :
The Golden Rules of Songwriting - by David E. Schindler
http://www.musesmuse.com/schind.html
A very useful list of things to do to keep you productive as a
songwriter.
Articles like this never go out of style. Though this is probably
one of the oldest articles on The Muse's Muse, it certainly stands
the test of time. (And by the way - I've lost touch with David so
if you know how to contact him, please do let me know!)
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C l a s s i f i e d s & U s e f u l S e r v i c e s :
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LYRICIST! SPECIAL SALE VERSION 1.2. $14.95 UNTIL OCT 31, 2001
(EXTENDED!).
Virtual Studio Systems, Inc. is proud to announce a special
liquidation sale for Version 1.2. Lyricist, the first of its kind
word processor designed for musicians, songwriters, and poets.
Includes a rhyming dictionary, spell checker, thesaurus, album
categorization and more. Ver 2 will include Chord Charting and
Song Arranging. A special deal will be offered to all registered
Lyricist users when Ver 2 is released in Oct 2001. Visit our
web-site at www.virtualstudiosystems.com for more information Call
us at 888.732.1176 U.S or 603.726.4911 outside the U.S.
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NOMA MUSIC HAS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE SONGWRITERS
who want to have their songs placed in major and independent
television, film, and commercials. We are receiving requests for a
wide variety of music styles that are phoned in to us daily by
music supervisors, producers, and directors. All styles of music are
okay to be submitted, but the most sought after styles at this time
are R&B, Alternative Rock, All Electronica, Hip-Hop, and all styles
of female singer/songwriter material. But we will listen to all
submissions.
More info at www.noma1.com ~ Phone: 877-980-7700 or 818-566-8817 PST
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CDstreet.com is your secure source for credit card music ordering
in your own website. As a member of the CDstreet network, you will
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setup fee and no sales equals no cost!
Check it out - http://www.cdstreet.com
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GET YOUR COPY OF THE INDIE CONTACT BIBLE & START MAKING WAVES!
This is an absolutely priceless resource for indie musicians. If
you want your music reviewed, on the radio, *heard*, THIS is the
resource you need to have. It's not going to tell you "how" but it
will *certainly* tell you "who". I highly recommend you pick it up
in order to compliment your other music marketing techniques. Have
a look at this url and read through a few sample pages to see what
I mean: http://www.bigmeteor.com/muse
(Full review at http://www.musesmuse.com/3.4-July00.html#book)
=================================================================
ADVERTISING RATES: For Classifieds: US$25 Max. 8 lines, where
a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation. All
contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com
For Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising
opportunities, please see http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html .
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=================================================================
C o n t a c t I n f o & C r e d i t s :
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Jodi Krangle ............................................. EDITOR
Kathryn Obenshain ...........................GRACIOUS PROOFREADER
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The Muse's News is a free monthly newsletter for and about
songwriters. Subscribers are welcome to recirculate or reprint
The Muse's News for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate
credit is given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is
included (including credits and information at the end of each
issue). Others should contact me at editor@musesmuse.com.
All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues and other information will be available at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html
The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for
songwriters: http://www.musesmuse.com/
For further information, send your e-mail to:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
adinfo@musesmuse.com - How to place a classified ad, pass
on market information or sponsor
The Muse's News.
info@musesmuse.com - How to subscribe, unsubscribe, etc.
editor@musesmuse.com - To submit articles,reviews,ideas,etc.
SNAILMAIL: Please contact me first at editor@musesmuse.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back issues of the newsletter can be read at the National
Library of Canada ecollection:
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/muses_news/index.html
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